198 PREVAILING INADEQ.UATK CONCEPTIONS [CH.IY.

ciple. The memory is retentive on these occasions,
and the man's character is blasted for life. Here
even the mere suspicion of having once offended
can scarcely be got over : " There is an awkward
story about that man, which must be explained
before he and I can become acquainted." But in
the case of sins against God, there is no such watchful
jealousy, none of this rigorous logic. A man may
go on in the frequent commission of known sins,
yet no such inference is drawn respecting the ab-
sence of the religious principle. On the contrary,
we say of him, that " though his conduct be a little
incorrect, his principles are untouched;"—that he
has a good heart: and such a man may go quietly
through life, with the titles of a mighty worthy crea-
ture, and a wry good Christian.

But in the word of God, actions are estimated by
a far less accommodating standard. There we read
of no little sins. Much of our Saviour's sermon
on the mount, which many of the class we are con-
demning affect highly to admire, is expressly pointed
against' so dangerous a misconception. There, no
such distinction is made between the rich and the
poor. No notices are to be traced of one scale of
morals for the higher, and of another for the lower
classes of society. Nay, the former are expressly
guarded against any such vain imagination; and
are distinctly warned, that their condition in life is
the more dangerous, because of the more abundant
temptations to which it exposes them. Idolatry,
fornication, lasciviousness, drunkenness, revellings,
inordinate affection, are, fay the Apostle, likewise
classed with theft and murder, and with what we hold
in even still greater abomination; and concerning
them all it is pronounced alike, that " they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God *."
* Gal. v. 19—21. Col. iii, 5—9.